Our Animals.

Lettie, a terrier cross, we got from the local Animal Sanctuary five years ago. She has a somewhat nervous disposition but is a real sweetie.

A man called Alice! He has been with us since January 1997. Apart from a touch of arthritis, which means he does’nt go on such long walks now, he is in great form.

Sadly Alice left us on April 16th 2012.

Smokie, a Toggenburg, is in her senior years. Retired from milking and breeding she will live out her life with us. She is about thirteen years old now. We have had her ten years. She is the Queen of the flock and has her own spot in the shed where no one else dare sit!

Smokie died from old age on November 23 2012.

She loved having her ears rubbed.

Daphne, a female Donkey, is about twenty years old. What can I say, she’s a cutie, and Chief Manure Maker!

Smokie and Daphne are companions. They don’t like to be separated.

Enid is our milk provider. She is five years old and has a really pleasant, sociable character. Her fave treat is Carrots, she loves ’em.

Bella is Enid’s daughter and was born in April 2010.

They too are companions and bleat like crazy if they are parted.

What a bunch of cuties!

In June 2011 we were joined by Freddie. His mother is a minuature Jack Russell and the debate rages about what his father is! Some say a Minuature Daschound, others think perhaps a Chihuahua. What do you think? He was 1 year old in October 2011. He is full of mischief and provides great entertainment.

Hi Bridget,I would say freddie is more daschound than chihuahua(i have a chi)mind you those ears:)are as big as my chi’s!!Love all your animals,we used to have a donkey but he took too much of a liking to my partner-if you know what i mean ,so we had to get him a new home(the donkey that is:()we are looking to get pygmy goats as we have just sold two British alpines,the mother was a bit lively for me so am looking to do things on a “small”scale)but do miss them!lovely blog/post.

I love them all! Especially Daphne and Smokey. I adore donkeys, and only wish we had enough land (and land far enough away from a main road) so we could give them a home here. Wonderful, adorable photos of wonderful, adorable furry, fuzzy friends. Thanks for sharing!

When we lived in Orkney we had lots of chucks and the polytunnel until it blew away (twice). I would have loved some Vietnamese pot bellied pigs and a bee-hive or two but our friend that house sat for us was very dubious about anything other than dogs, cats and chickens. Shame..
We save some of our own seed and also tried heritage ones from the Organic Society. The latter didn’t germinate very well so I don’t think I’ll be using them again.
Have you come across aminopyralid in Ireland. Farmers spray it on their grass to get rid of “weeds” it’s fed to horses, goes right through them into the manure. It distorts potatoes and similar crops and stays in the soil for years. I won’t bring any manure into the garden now after we fell prey to it.
+1

When we lived in Orkney we had lots of chucks and the polytunnel until it blew away (twice). I would have loved some Vietnamese pot bellied pigs and a bee-hive or two but our friend that house sat for us was very dubious about anything other than dogs, cats and chickens. Shame..
We save some of our own seed and also tried heritage ones from the Organic Society. The latter didn’t germinate very well so I don’t think I’ll be using them again.
Have you come across aminopyralid in Ireland. Farmers spray it on their grass to get rid of “weeds” it’s fed to horses, goes right through them into the manure. It distorts potatoes and similar crops and stays in the soil for years. I won’t bring any manure into the garden now after we fell prey to it.

I have never heard of this weedkiller to be used here in Ireland but then I am a gardener and try where possible not to use any chemicals. I am going to ask around and see is it used in rural areas. Supposedly used on grassland to kill docks and thistles it sounds like a nasty chemical. But then aren’t they all! Surely manure from animals that had been grazed on land that had been sprayed using this chemical should be labelled so. Thanks Janet for sharing….

Hi Jane, no, I don’t think anyone wants this fracking to go ahead in Ireland. The problem is tv and radio have not mentioned it, there have been a few articles in the newspapers so most people know nothing about it. In the coming days a petition will be going online, get as many as you can to sign it, that would be a tremendous help. The battle has just begun.
Elaine, thanks for your comments. Would love a couple of those minuature goats. The reason for saving seeds is not really a financial one. Seeds are coming under the control of the gm industry and the multinationals. I and many others are trying to be as independent as possible from these entities.

Just had to leave a comment on the animals page!!
Glad you popped by to say hello….nice to meet you! Seems like we are on the same page…read your fracking post ….makes me fracking afraid I can tell you. Love your polytunnel, we are hoping to get one next year but it will have to be able to survive our fracking cold winters and the ton of fracking snow we get each year!
That is my new favourite word!!
Jane x